Rolling-chair.



C. N. HAZELTON.

ROLLING CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED 1 13.13.15.1912.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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nnrrnn hitwhhi CHARLES N. HAZELTON, OF MORRISON, ILLINOIS.

ROLLING-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1915..

Application filed. February 15, 1912. Serial No. 927,832.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES N. HAZEL- 'roN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Morrison, in the county ofWhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rolling-Chairs, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to rolling chairs for invalids, which as atpresent constructed are of two kinds; those which are specially adaptedfor use on the street, and those which are intended for house use. Mydevice seeks to combine features whereby a strong durable chair isproduced which can be used for either outdoor or indoor purposes. Formervehicles of this class comprise chiefly a chair with wheels attached, orrolling chair as the name indicates, whereas my device consists of arolling frame of special construction, provided with a seat and movableback which can be re moved for purposes hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheeled chairembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a medial longitudinal section thereof.Fig. 3 is a detail showing the seat frame and supporting frame therefor.Fig. 4 is a detail showing the leg-rest in folded position.

Similar parts are indicated by corresponding reference numbersthroughout the several figures.

1 is a frame, having cross-pieces 2 and 3, and supported at its rear endon carryingwheels 4, preferably by means of springs 5, connecting saidframe with the axle 6 of said wheels. Connected with the forward end ofsaid frame by means of a pair of supports 7 is a frame 8, the forwardend of which is mounted on a pair of small carrying-wheels 9.Guard-braces 10 extend from the front end of the frame 1 to the forwardend of the frame 8, and said frames are further united by means ofsupports 11 extending downwardly from the rear end of the frame 1 to therear end of the frame 8, and cross-braces 12 connecting the forward endof the frame 1 with the rear end of the frame 8. The frame 8 isalsoprovided at its rear end with a cross-piece 13, and at the front end ofthe frame 8 is a platform 14..

Pivoted to the forward end of the frame 1 is a pair of sidebars 15,capable of vertical movement on their pivots so as to be held in adesired position with relation to the frame 1 by means of adjustmentplates 16, connecting the movable parts of said bars with the rear partof such frame. The bars 15 are united at their rear ends by across-piece 17 which also serves as a handle for the use of a personoperating the chair from the rear thereof. Each of the bars 15 isprovided with an arm-rest 18.

Supported on the cross-pieces 2 and 3 is a frame 19 having cross-pieces20 and 21 corresponding in thickness 'ith the crosspieces 2 and 3 andadapted to set between the same. On the frame 19 is supported a seat 22of any desired material, and pivotally connected with the side-pieces ofthe frame 19 is a back 23, capable of being held in adjusted positionsby means of a rod 24 held at its ends in depressions in the arm-rests18.

By lowering the side-bars 15 and supporting the back 23 on thecross-piece 17 the vehicle can be converted into a reclining chair. Toaid in this position a leg-rest is provided, consisting of a part 25,hingeably attached to the cross-piece 2 and a part 26 hingeablyconnected with the part 25. When not in use the leg-rest is partlyfolded with the part 25 in vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4, withthe part 26 supported on the platform 14:, and forming therewith asupport upon which the occupant of the chair can step in entering orleaving such chair. The leg-rest can be held in a partially raisedposition by means of a brace 27, hinged at one end near the lower edgeof the part 25 and held at its other end by a depression in the platform14, shown in Fig. 2. V7 hen the chair back is in a more recliningposition the leg-rest can be held in a horizontal position by supportingthe end of the brace 2'"! at the forward end of the platform 14. Whenthe brace 27 is not in use it can be supported against the rear face ofthe part 25 by means of a hook or other means. To give greater supportto the parts of the legrest at the point of connection thereof the part26 is provided at each edge with a plate 28, projecting beyond thejoint, and adapted to engage a pin 29 in the part 25.

Pivoted on the inner faces of the bars 15 is a pair of arms 30, unitedby a cross-piece 31, adapted to be connected with the crosspiece 17 bymeans of a clasp 32, hinged to the part 31. By this means the arms 30may be held in extended position, in line with the bars 15. When notthus in use such arms are permitted to hang downwardly from theirpivotal points. The arms 30 are provided near their outer ends with. abar 33, which serves as an auxiliary handle.

Beneath the platform 14 is pivotally supported a cross-piece 34:,carrying on its outer face a pair of swivel-rollers 35, and connectedwith said cross-piece at one of its ends is a hand-lever 36 projectingupwardly through a slot (not shown) in the platform 1% and capable ofbeing oscillated longi tudinally of the frame 8 in a rack 37 secured atone end to the support 7 and at the other end to a slat 38 connectingsaid support with one of the guards 10. The cross-piece 3 1 is normallyheld in elevated position when the vehicle is beingused as a streetchair, and propelled in a straight line, but when it is desired to usethe same as a house chair or to turn the same within a small space suchcross-piece is lowered by operation of the lever 36, the rollers 35having the effect of raising the forward end of the frame 8 until thewheels 9 are clear of the ground. The chair can then be readily turnedin any direction. lVhen the lever 30 is at the end of its rearwardmovement it is locked in such position by means of a latch 39 on thesupport 7, and in its forward position such lever is held fromaccidental movement by means of a catch 40 on the slat 88. d

To hold the seat frame 19 in place the cross-pieces 20 and 21 areprovided with turn-buttons 4C1, which are turned so as to engage thecross-pieces 2 and 3, and which, upon being turned lengthwise of theparts to which they are attached, permit the release of the seat andback connected therewith. One of the advantages of having the seatremovable is in order that another chair can be used with the frame 1,such as is shown in Letters Patent No. 820,973, issued to myself May 22,1906. In such use the upper part of the chair is supported on thecross-pieces 2 and 8, and the rear legs engage the cross-piece 13 tokeep the chair from tipping. When used in this way the chair can berolled to a desired locality, and the chair removed from the frame andused independently.

It will be seen that the handle-frame is not connected in any way withthe back of the chair, and can be raised or lowered without referencethereto, and the operation of Qopies of this patent may be obtained forfive the back is also independent of the handles and arm-rests.

In the operation of pushing the chair the force is applied to theforward part of the frame 1, or at a point in the vehicle which isbeneath the occupant, rendering the same more easily and steadilyoperated. In most chairs of this kind the force is exerted against theshoulders of the occupant, tending to tip the chair forward. If desired,the rear ends of the bars 15 can be lengthened to some extent, and theauxiliary arms and handle dispensed with.

\V hen inuse either with or without the leg-rest the chair is providedat its forward end with a level platform, solidly supported so that thesame can be stepped upon without danger of upsetting the chair.

For use in the house the short handle and swivel rollers are preferablyemployed, the space for operation being more limited, but for useoutside of the house where it is desired to propel the chair in astraight line the auxiliary handle and carrying wheels are more suitableand to be preferred.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is:

1. A rolling chair, comprising a wheeled frame; a seat supportedtherein; handle bars pivoted to said frame and provided with a handle;means for adjusting the position of said bars with reference to saidframe: arm-rests fixed to said handle-bars; and a back hingeablyconnected with said frame, and adjustably supported on said arm-rests.

A rolling chair, comprising a wheeled frame; handle-bars pivoted to saidframe and provided with a handle; means for vertical adjustment of saidbars; an auxiliary iandle, pivoted to said handle-bars and adapted to beheld in line therewith; armrests fixed to said handle-bars; and a backhingeably connected with said frame and adjust-ably supported on saidarm-rests, to permit the degree of inclination of said back to bevaried.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. H. GRAY, N. l-lAsKELL.

cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latcnts,

Washington, D. C."

